70 Field Naturalist <i' Cliih—Pi'oceedin(;s. [vol'."xxxl. 



several by pre-Linnean authors. Some were published as far 

 back as the year 1532. It is certainly the hnest botanical 

 library in the Southern Hemisphere, and, like the Herbarium, 

 is accessible to all botanical workers for reference. It may be 

 mentioned that the annual correspondence averages 1,500 

 letters, and the advice and information given to correspondents 

 and visitors range over every department of botanical science, 

 from the naming of plants to the nature of j)lant metalx)lism. 

 Identifications are made not only for local correspondents and 

 Government departments, but also for scientists in Euroiw? 

 and America and all j^arts of Australasia. The Herbarium is 

 also used by the Commonwealth for the investigation and 

 recording of the flora of the Northern Territory. In addition, 

 the staff is systematically arranging the large collections of 

 Australian and non-Australian j^lants received from time to 

 time, and the work of preparing records for compiling a new 

 "Flora of Victoria" is being proceeded with. Species and 

 genera new to science are determined and the descriptions 

 published from time to time, while many alien species have 

 been determined and recorded as new introductions in Vic- 

 toria. It need hardly be mentioned that any persons who 

 are interested in botany may avail themselves of the facilities 

 for obtaining information at the National Herbarium. 



DONATION TO THE LIBRARY. 



The president, Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., acknowledged, on 

 behalf of the Club, the gift from the authors and publishers 

 of a copy of a new work. " The Butterflies of Australia." by 

 Messrs. G. A. Waterhouse, B.Sc, B.E.. and Geo. Lyall. F.E.S.. 

 both members of the Club. Referring to the volume, he 

 stated that it contained about 240 pages of letterpress and 

 43 plates containing some qoo illustrations. It was the out- 

 come of a life's study, and was the first work to fully describe 

 and illustrate the whole of the known Australian Initterflies. 

 A general scheme of up-to-date classification was followed 

 throughout, which facilitates comparison and identification. 

 The subject had been exliaustively dealt with by the authors, 

 and members would be deeply !.,Mateful to them for their 

 magnificent donation. 



REMARKS RESPECTING EXHIBITS. 



Referring to his exhibit of a thin slice of phosphatized oolitic 

 limestone from Ocean Island, South Pacific. Mr. F. Cliapman, 

 A.L.S., said : — " In the microscope slide shown the rock is 

 seen to consist of a number of ovoid pellets varying in diameter 

 from the size of a blanket p'm head to a pea. Under the micro- 

 scope the pellets show a regular concentric structure like 

 miniature onions. These pellets are surrounded by an even- 



